Stereoscope.



J. L. DISNEY.

STEREOSCOPE.

APPUCATION FILED DEC.27.1916.

Patented Feb.26,1918.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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STEREOSCOPE.

APPLlCATlON FILED DEC.27. 191s.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918 3 SHEETS-8HEET 2.

J. L. DISNEY.

STEREOSCOPE.

APPLlCATlON FILED 0c.21.191e.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3 JwweMkm JAMES LAMBERT DISNEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEREOSCOPE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

Application filed December 27, 1916. Serial No. 139,169.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs LAMBERT DIS- NFY, a subject of Great Britain, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereoscopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved stereoscope, one of the objects of the invention being to so construct a stereoscope that itcan be readily folded and unfolded and that when folded it will form a neat and small package which can be conveniently handled and carried in the pocket.

Another object is to so design a foldable stereoscope which will be strong, durable, and particularly adapted for practical use, such for example as by salesmen, manufacturers and contractors who, with the aid of my invention, can display actual photographs or other pictures of the articles they have for sale or have under consideration, it being well known that a photograph or picture viewed through a stereoscope has substantially the same appearance as the subject of which the picture is a representation. Hence, with the use of my invention a salesman for example, can be relieved of the burden of the articles which he has for sale and merely carry photographic pictures of the articles and submit the pictures for inspection by prospective customers.

A further object is to so construct my improved stereoscope that certain of the parts which have function in the device as a stereoscope also form the container or package for conveniently housing all of the other parts when the same are in their folded positions.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved stereoscope unfolded and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of my invention.

Fig. i is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 4-1 of Fig. 2.

Fi 5 is a fragmentary elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of certain of the elements of my invention in positions 00- cup ed when the stereoscope is not in use.

Fig. 7 1s a sectional view. on the line 77 of Fig. 6 showing the picture holder slightly inclined and will hereinafter be more fully described.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an improved lens retaining member which .I preferably employ.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a slideway or rail which I employ. Fig. 10 is a view showing one face of my lmproved stereoscope when the latter is folded.

Fig. 11 is a face view looking from the opposite side of Fig. 10 showing all of the elements folded and inclosed within the hood portion.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 1212 of Fig 11.

Figs. 13, 14:, and 15, are fragmentary perspective views showing certain modifications of the form of my invention.

Fig. 16 is a transverse section taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevation showing certain modifications of elements which I employ.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive, 1 is a lens carrying plate which has openings 2 and 3 to the rear of which are placed lenses 4 and 5. The plate 1 is preferably made of sheet metal and in cutting the openings 2 and 3, side flanges are formed by bending the metal to provide abutments 6 and 7 for the side edges of said lenses.

The openings 2 and 3 are slightly shorter than the length of the lenses 4 and 5 so that a bearing is formed for the top' and bottom portions of the front face of said lenses, it being noted that the abutments 7 are of greater length than the abutments 6 to accommodate the tapered formation which is present in practically all stereoscope lenses, said abutments 7 including lips 8 which contact with the narrow edges of said lenses.

In order to hold the lenses to the structure just described, I preferably provide frames 9 (see Fig. 8), said frames having bent flanges 10 and 11 which embrace the upper and lower edge surfaces of said lenses.

The flanges 10 and 11 are each provided with lips 12 which are designed to pass through slots 13" in the plate 1 after which the lips 12 are bent so as to clench and hold said frames 9 to the plate 1.

' A base plate 13 is hinged at 14 to the front 5 of the plate 1, said hinge 14 being above the lower edge 15 of the plate 1 and havin a downwardly extending portion 16 which abuts the part 17 of the hinge which is secured to the lower edge 15 of the plate 1 so as to limit the pivotal movement downwardly of the'base plate 13 with respect to the plate 1, the base plate 13 being substantially at right angles to the plate 1 when the portion 16 abuts the portion 17 above noted.

Two plates 18 and 19 are hinged to the upper face of the base plate 13, and at their forward ends are bent to form septa 20 and 21 respectively, each of said septa having a spring clip 22 thereon which is designed to frictionally engage the adjacent septiun when the device is ready for use. In other words, the septum 20 has secured to it a spring clip 22 which has a spring-pressed end designed to engage the front face of the septum 21, the septum 21 also having a spring-pressed clip 22 which has a portion for frictional engagement with the front face of the septum 20 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 4).

The plates 18 and 19 are cut away at their rear edges as shown at 23, the length of said cut away portions being slightly greater than one half of the length of the hinge 16, so that said plates may be folded in opposite directions and against the upper face of the base plate 13 and afterward the base plate 13 may be moved' on its hinge to a position substantially parallel with' the plate 1 as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to more firmly secure the plate 1 and base plate 13 in the position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a lug 24 on the forward face of the plate 1 adjacent the top edge thereof, and through this plate extends a pin 25, said pin projecting beyond opposite faces of the lug 24 and designed to enter holes 26 which are formedin the upper portion of the plates 18 and 19.

It will thus be understood that the spring clips 22 serve to hold the plates 18 and .19

together to prevent movement thereof on' their hinge connection with the base plate 13 and the pin 25 prevents any movement between the lens plate 1 and base'plate 13.

Handles 27 and 28 are hinged to the lower surface of the base plate 13'and are preferably made in a box form as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with angular upper ends 29 and 30 respectively, which abut the lower are in their depending positions. However, it will be understood that thesehandlesmay be folded 'in op osite directionsand; laid face of the base plate '13 when the handles The rear face of the lens plate 1 is rovided with an' elliptical flange 31 whic is discontinued to provide an o ening 32 to one side of a central line 33 or a purpose hereinafter described.

A flexible hood 34 preferably made of leather is hinged as shown at 35 to the upper portion of the elliptical flange and adjacent the outer edge of said flange. In other words, the axis of said hinge. is placed at a position remote from the rear surface of the lens plate 1 (see Fig. 2). The hood 34 is shaped to form a neat and continuous line of intersection with the face and head of the person using the stereoscope, said shape being clearly illustrated in Flgs. 1, 2, 3, and 11.

Furthermore, the hood is provided with two free end portions or extensions 36 and 37. .The hood when in an operative position, surrounds and bears against the outer side surfaces of the elliptical flange 31 and has holes 38 which register with pins 39 which are spaced at pre-determined distances apart and project outwardly fromthe outer side surface of said flange 31 into said holes 38, thereby detachably securing the hood to said flange.

The extension 37 of the hood is provided with two snap buttons 40 and 41, and the extension 36 is provided with a snap button socket 42. The flange 31 has a central opening 43 through which the snap button 40 is designed to pass as shown in Fig. 3, it being noted that the extension 37 is turned and passed'through the opening 32 as shown at 44 so as to position one of the hood'extensions at either side of the flange 31 for clamping purposes hereinafter more fully described.

The button 40 is designed to pass through the hole 43 in the flange 31 and to engage the snap button socket 42 to hold and clamp the said hood extensions to the flange and prevent them from working loose. The extension 37 is of'such length that when the hood is folded around the ends of the lens platel toembrace other of the elements of the stereoscope as shown in Fig. 11, the snap button 41 will engage the socket 42 and thereby securely bmd or house the several parts to ether.

V A sli eway or rail 45 is preferably made of sheet metal and shaped as clearly shown in said figures of drawing, side flanges 46 and 47 extending longitudinally of the slideway and being bent to form a closed end48 as clearly shown in Fig. 9, the top 49; being extended as shown at 50, said extension having anotch or slot 51 formed in its extreme end.

The end 48 of the slideway 45 is designed to abut a downwardly extending flange 52 on the base plate 13, while the'extension 50 is designed forest on the upper surface of under the nut 54 andthe said base plate 13. The base plate 13 has a clamping screw 53 extending therethrough which isprovided with an adjusting or clamping nut 54, the plates 18 and 19 being cut away at 55 to accommodate the adjusting screw and nut just described.

The extension 50 is designed to engage notch 51 permits the extension to embrace or straddle the screw 53, the nut 54 tending to clamp the extension and therebythe slideway 45 to the base plate 13. The plate 13 serves to prevent the slideway or rail 45 from sagging and, to prevent the Slideway45 from being raised, the base plate is'made slightly shorter than the plates 18 and 19 so that the bottom portions of the I septa 20 and 21 engage the upper surface of the slideway 45 at a point forward of the \depending flange 52.

A slide or carriage 56 surrounds the slideway or rail 45 and conforms to the general cross sectional shape of the top and sides of said rail. The carriage 56 is preferably made of strip metal andhas a lapped joint on the bottom portion thereof, said portions which form the lap joint being defiected upwardly as shown at 57 and 58 to provide a convenient portion which may be grasped by the fingers in order to move the carriage longitudinally on the rail 45.

A hinge 59 has one of its leaves or plates 60 pivotally connected at 61 to the upper part of the slide 56. The other leaf 62 of the hinge 59 has a flanged or turned end 63 which is secured to one side of a picture holder 64, the latter when in use being designed to extend transversely of the rail 45.

The picture holder is preferably made of pressed sheet metal and is substantially channel shape in cross section. Fingers 65 are formed ad acent each end of the picture holder by cutting through the top thereof and then bending portions upwardly to form U-shape sockets 66 designed to embrace the end portions of the pictures to be viewed.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1, that the portions which are cut out of the picture holder are T-shape as shown at 67, the extensions which form the T-heads being bent to produce the U-shaped sockets above described.

The sides 68 and 69 ofthe picture holder 64 extend beyond the leaf 62 of the hinge 59, said sides 68 and 69 being cut away at 70 and 71 respectively to it over the lateral edges of the slide 56 when the hinge is in its folded position as shown in Figs. 1. 2, and 5. Vhen in this position, the hinge and consequently the picture holder is prevented from moving on the plvot 61. The side 69 has a recess 72 which is preferably formed by cutting out a tongue 73 and forcing said tongue into the posltion clearly shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7. This recess 72 flange 52 on the base However,

is made angular so as to embrace the sides of an auxiliary septum 74, the latter con- I recess 72 when the device is 1n operation.

stereoscope, the auxiliary septum 74 may be manually moved against the action of the spring 77 out of the recess 72 and then turned on the pin 76 into a position immediately in front of the side 69 and parallel therewith, such position being shown .in Fig. 6. 4 Figs. 1, 2, and 5, show the auxiliary septum in its operative position.

The lens plate 1 is preferably formed with two holes 78 and 79 to permit the fingers 65 to extend therethrough when the 'stereoscope is folded as will be hereinafter described.

In the use of my invention, the pictures are placed within the finger 65 and rest on the upper surface of the holder 64. The pictures are viewed through the hood 34 and lenses, and the picture holder may be moved to suit the focus of the observer by grasping the portions 57 and 58 of the slide 56 to move the slide and consequently the picture toward or from the lenses.

T 0 fold and pack my improved stereoscope, the nut 54 is loosened and the rail 45 may then be withdrawn from its connection with the base plate 13. The picture holder 64 is then raised on the hinge 59 to free the cut away portions 70 and 71 from the slide 56. The auxiliary septum 74 may then be folded as above described by forcing it out of the recess 72 and turning it on the pin 76. The hinge 59 is then completely opened and the leaf 60 is turned on the pivot 61 until the hinge is substantially at right angles to the length of the rail 45 and the picture holder assumes an inverted position parallel to and spaced from said rail 45 as clearly shown in Fig. 6 ofthe drawing.

The plates 18 and 19 may then be swung downwardly on their hinges to free them from the pin 25 and the spring-pressed clips 22. The lens plate 1 and the base plate 13 are then moved on the hinge 14 with the plates 18 and 19 between them. The hood 34 is released by unfastening the snap button 40 to free the extensions 01" the hood, and the latter may be detached or removed from its pin connection with the flange 31. The handles 27 and 28 are then folded flat against the base plate 13, and the rail 45 and picture holder 64 are placed at either side of said folded handles as clearly shown in Fig. 11. The hood is then folded flat when it" is desired to fold the across the rear face of the lens plate 1 and then folded around the opposite ends of said lens plate and across the rail 45, picture holder 64 and handles 27 and 28 (see Figs. 11 and 12).

When in this position the button 41 may be engaged by the socket 42 to secure the ends of said hood together with all the portions embraced by said hood.

It will be noted from Figs. 7 and 12 that the fingers 65 extend through the holes 78 and 79 in the lens plate 1. When in this folded position, the stereoscope may be carried either without an additional case or if desired, a small additional case may be provided therefor.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 13, I have omitted the septum plates adjacent the lens holding plate and in lieu thereof I merely form a brace 80 comprising two leaves or plates 81 which are hinged at 82 to a base plate 83, the latter being substantially similar to the base plate 13 above described and has a similar hinge connection 84 with the lens carrying plate 85.

Spring pressed clips 86 are provided to hold the leaves 81 together, the upper ends of said leaves being provided with holes 87 through which pro ect end portions of a pin 88, the latter being carried by a lu 89 on the forward face of a lens plate 85. n all other respects the parts are-similar to those above described, and I have therefore given like parts similar reference numerals.

In Fig. 14, instead of hinging the septum carrying plates on a base plate as'described in connection with Figs. 1 and 12 inclusive, I provide the septum plates 90 and 91 with hinges 92 and 93 and connect the latter to the forward face of the lens carrying plate 94. A base plate 95 is hinged at 95 to the lens plate 94 in the manner similar to the hinging of the base plate 13 to the lens plate 1 as above described.

The base plate 95 in Fig. 14 is provided with a lug 96 having a pin 97 projecting from opposite sides thereof which enters holes adjacent the bottoms of the plates 90 and 91 in a manner similar to the pins 25 and 87 above described in order to steady the construction. In all other respects the construction of Fig. 14 is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive and I have given the same parts corresponding reference numerals.

In Figs. 15 and 16, instead of employing the nut and binding screw construction for holding the rail to the base plate, I provide a slot 98 in the end of the rail 45 and also provide the base plate 98 with a turn buckle 99, the latter being so shaped that it can be projected through the slot 98 and afterward turned at right angles thereto to straddle the width of the slot and thereby hold the plate 98 and rail 45 together.

In Fig. 17, I have shown a construction wherein a lens plate 100 has a baseplate 101 secured thereto by a hinge 102' and in order to steady the connection of the plates 100 and 101, I provide the latter with a spring- While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stereoscope including a lens plate, a hood of flexible material secured to said lens plate and having free end portions, said hood being designed to be bent around the lenses in said plate, and means for detachably connecting said end portions to the plate, substantially as described.

2. A stereoscope includin a lens plate, a flexible hood secured to sai lens plate and having free end portions said hood being designed to be bent around the lenses in said plate, means for detachably connecting said end portions to the plate, said hood being of such length that said end portions may be folded around edges of said lens plate and secured together adjacent the opposite side of said lens plate, substantially as described.

3. A stereoscope including a lens plate, a flexible hood having a body portion secured to said lens plate, said lens plate having a flange extending from one face thereof, said hood having free end portions and designed to be bent around and to embrace said flange and means for detachably connecting the end portions to hold said hood to the flange, substantially as described.

4 A stereoscope including a lens plate, a flexible hood having a body portion secured to said lens plate, said lens plate having a flan e extending from one face thereof, said hoo having free end portions and designed to be bent around and to embrace said flange, pins extending from the sides of said flange, said hood having registering holes designed to embrace said pins and thereby detachably connect the hood to the flan e, and means for detachably connectin the rec end portions of the hood, substantially as described.

5. A stereoscope including a lens plate, a flexible hood having a body portion secured to said lens plate said lens plate havinga flange extending from one face thereof, said flange being interrupted for a portion of its length and having a hole adjacent said interrupted portion, said hood having free end portions, one of said end portions being designed to be projected through the space provided by the interruption of said flange, and connecting means for said free end portions designed to be projected through said hole in the flange, substantially as described.

6. A stereoscope including a lens plate, a base plate movably connected thereto so as to fold upon said lens plate, other plates designed to be folded between the base plate and the lens plate when the latter are in their folded position, said other plates having spring-pressed clips designed to fric tionally hold them together to form a brace for the lens plate and the base plate while the latter are in their operative positions, substantially as described.

7. A stereoscope including a lens plate, a base plate movably connected thereto so as to fold upon said lens plate, other plates designed to be folded between the base plate and the lens plate when the latter are in their folded positions, said other plates having means for holding them in position to form a brace between the lens plate and the base plate, and a pin and hole connection for said plates to act as a reinforcement to prevent accidental movement between said lens plate and base plate, substantially as described.

8. A stereoscope including a lens plate, a base plate connected thereto, a rail having a notch extending inwardly from one end, said end being adapted to lap said base plate, clamping means on said base plate and having a portion extending through the notch in the rail, said clampin means being operative to move and ho d the plate and rail together, a carriage slidable on the rail, and a picture holder movable by the carriage, substantially as described.

9. A stereoscope includin a lens plate, a base plate connected to said ens plate, other plates designed to be positioned between said lens plate and base plate and having portions extending beyond the forward end of said base plate, a rail having an extension designed to fit between said base plate and the extending portions of said third mentioned plates, said end portion of the base plate having a depending flange, said rail having a depending portion'designed to abut the forward face of the said depending flange, substantially as described.

10. A stereoscope including a rail, a carriage slidable on the rail, a hinge having one of its leaves pivotally connected to said carriage, and a picture holder connected to the other leaf of said hinge, substantially as described.

11. A stereoscope including a rail, a carriage slidable on the rail, a hinge having one of its leaves pivotally connected to said carriage, a picture holder connected to the other leaf of said hinge, and an auxiliary septum movable in conjunction with said picture holder, substantially as described.

12. A stereoscope including a movable picture holder and aseptum movably mounted on said holder and operative to be moved.

into an inoperative position completely out of line of vision, substantially as described.

13. A stereoscope including a picture holder, and a member movable in conjunction with said picture holder and designed to form a septum for the parting between the pictures carried by said holder, said septum being movable relatively thereto into an inoperative position independently of the holder, substantially as described.

14. A stereoscope including a picture holder, a member pivotally connected to said picture holder and movable into operative and inoperative positions independently of the movement of the holder, and means for holding said member in an operative osition to form a septum for the parting between the pictures carried by said holder, substantially as described.

15. A stereoscope including a picture holder, a member pivotally connected to said picture holder, said holder having a recess into which said member fits when in an operative position, and a spring for holding said member within said recess, substantially as described.

16. A stereoscope including a' picture holder having picture holdin fingers formed by cutting said holder and ending the cut portions outwardly, said out portions being bent into U-shaped ends to provide sockets for the end portions of the pictures, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this Specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

J S LAMBERT DISNEY.

Witnesses:

Guns. E. Po'rrs, RHODA E. Gmmns. 

